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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Suggestions for narrow, short trees with non-spreading roots

4 replies

Chersfrozenface · 17/03/2026 11:28

I need a tree. Well, two trees. Narrow, not too tall, 3m max, tap root rather then roots that spread. Will get sun once they're over 1.5m.

Are there any such trees?

OP posts:
Yamadori · 17/03/2026 11:39

Taxus fastigiata.

Although there is a misconception about roots. The purpose of a tree's tap root is to anchor it firmly in the ground. All trees will have smaller feeder roots spreading out sideways, which are the ones that take in water and nutrients. Some trees are invasive and can cause structural problems but taxus (yew) is not one of those.

MrAlyakhin · 18/03/2026 03:49

I'd agree with yew, tend to be slow growing. I have several and haven't needed to prune at all compared to some of the others which get done every year. Also if you do need to prune they grow back unlike other conifers which won't. It's native so good for wildlife too.

brambleberries · 18/03/2026 23:44

Taxus baccata fastigiata aurea - Golden Irish yew.
An elegant variety with emerging yellow foliage giving it a golden glow in spring which turns a rich green. It will grow to 4 metres unpruned, but it's easy to keep at a desired height. It's a female clone, so likely to bear attractive red berries in winter if there is a male pollinator in the vicinity.

Monthlymonster · 19/03/2026 16:41

I’m looking for similar and have come across Sorbus autumn spire as a good option.

I need to just block out some windows that overlook my shallow but wide garden.

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